Bonjour! Welcome to Sault, a picturesque hilltop village in Provence, famous for its endless lavender fields, wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, and spectacular countryside views. While many travelers head to the region’s more famous destinations, Sault remains a quieter hidden gem where you can slow down, wander charming streets, indulge in local delicacies, and enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes in Southern France. Sounds like your kind of place? Then keep reading and discover the best things to do in Sault.
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Sault, France FAQ
Sault is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region within the Vaucluse department in France. It sits at an elevation of around 760 m and is surrounded by lavender fields. The nearest popular villages and towns include Gordes, Roussillon, Orange, or Avignon.
Without a doubt, yes! In our opinion, Sault is one of the best places in Provence to experience lavender without fighting the crowds. But its appeal goes far beyond the endless purple landscapes. Here, you’ll also find beautiful stone streets, panoramic viewpoints, traditional Provençal cafés, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.
Sault is best known for its spectacular lavender fields. Every summer, the countryside surrounding the village transforms into a sea of purple as thousands of lavender fields burst into bloom. Beyond lavender, Sault is appreciated for its peaceful atmosphere, scenic hiking trails, and delicious local products, including nougat, honey, and lavender-inspired products.
The lavender in Sault usually blooms from mid-July to mid-August, making it one of the latest places in Provence to enjoy the famous purple landscapes. Because Sault sits higher than Valensole or Luberon, its fields are still gloriously purple when others have already been harvested. This is why Sault has quietly become a favourite for those who arrive “too late” for the rest of Provence.
Both are stunning, but they offer different experiences. Valensole has the classic postcard rows and peaks in late June to early July, but it also draws big crowds. Sault has more rolling, high-altitude fields, blooms later, and stays much quieter.
Things to do in Sault lavender village
Explore Sault old town streets
Start where every visit to Sault should begin – in the village itself. Sault’s old town is compact and easy to explore on foot, with quaint stone houses, pastel shutters, quiet alleyways, flower-filled corners, and scenic viewpoints. There are no major attractions pulling you from one place to another. Instead, the joy of visiting Sault lies in simply wandering its peaceful streets and soaking up its Provençal atmosphere.
Best way to explore Sault? Follow the marked “One hour on the Wolf’s steps” trail, that will guide you through the historic centre.
While wandering around, you’ll discover several interesting landmarks, including the 12th century Notre-Dame de la Tour Church and Municipal Museum with artefacts from the prehistoric to medieval times. Also, don’t miss the terrace along Avenue de la Promenade, which offers wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Sault is also home to several art galleries, boutique shops, and cozy cafés where you can slow down and enjoy the relaxed vibe. Be sure to sample some local specialties too, especially the delicious nougat and fragrant lavender honey – a true taste of Provence!
The Sault Tourist Office is located on Avenue de la Promenade, right at the entrance to the village. It’s a convenient stop to pick up a map and gather helpful sightseeing information.
Travel tip. If you’re visiting Sault on Wednesday, don’t miss the weekly morning market. Everything from local delights and fresh produce to lavender products and handmade crafts and souvenirs will be there!
Experience Lavender in Sault
Sault is sometimes called the lavender capital of Provence – it’s easy to see why! During summer, the countryside surrounding the village is covered in fragrant purple fields, making it one of the most beautiful places in France to experience lavender in bloom. But visiting Sault isn’t just about admiring the scenery – there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the region’s lavender heritage. Let’s see.
One of the most popular experiences is walking the Lavender Trail (Le Chemin de la Lavande), an easy route that leads through blooming fields just outside the village. It is around 5km and takes roughly an hour and a half at a slow pace. It’s an amazing thing to do in Sault, and is completely free!
To discover how lavender is transformed into essential oils and other products, visit one of the local lavender distilleries located around the village. They are also amazing places to buy essential oils, soaps, perfumes, honey, herbal teas, and other lavender-based products.
If you’re visiting Sault in mid August, don’t miss the annual Lavender Festival (Fête de la Lavande). The celebration fills Sault’s streets with market stalls, live music, traditional Provençal entertainment, parades, and plenty of local food. It’s one of the biggest lavender festivals in Provence and an amazing opportunity to experience the village at its liveliest.
Admire views from Belvédère de Saint-Jean
Belvédère de Saint-Jean is one of the area’s most spectacular viewpoints located just a few minutes’ drive from Sault. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views over the Plateau d’Albion, with rolling lavender fields stretching across the valley and the iconic Mont Ventoux rising in the distance.
During the lavender season, the scenery is especially breathtaking, making it one of the best photo spots near Sault!
How to get to Sault, France?
Sault is located about 20km from Simiane la Rotonde or Saint Saturnin lès Apt, 30km Provencal Colorado, 35km from Gordes, and 70km from Avignon. The most convenient way to get to Sault is by car.
Where to park in Sault?
In Sault we recommend leaving a car in Place des Aires. It’s free, located on the edge of the village, and just a few steps from the panoramic terrace. Also, there are some spots lining the main street leading up into town.
To Sault by public transport
Public transport to Sault is limited and the trip might be very long, even from the nearby villages and towns. The fastest, and actually the only, way of getting directly to the village is by bus, but we don’t recommend it. A rented car will save you a lot of hassle here. But if you’d like to try, check current connections that might interest you, visit the regional transport website Zou or rome2rio.com website.
Camping Sault
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Ushuaïa Villages or Camping de Valsaintes might interest you. They are located close to Sault.
Explore local attractions
Visiting Sault in Provence – Summing up
Sault may be a small village, but it offers everything we love about Provence – picturesque streets, beautiful lavender scenery, relaxed atmosphere, and delicious local specialties. If you’re planning a road trip through Provence, don’t miss the chance to spend a few hours in this charming village. Enjoy your visit to Sault!
Our opinion about Sault
For us, a visit to Sault was a day trip from nearby Orgon, where we lived for a few weeks. We combined it with a hike in nearby Provencal Colorado and a visit to the beautiful Simiane la Rotonde village. We explored Sault in early June, and back then the village was surprisingly busy with other tourists, especially cyclists. Exploring everything we wanted at a relaxed pace took us about 2 hours.
Overall, we liked wandering through the village and admiring the surrounding countryside views from its many viewpoints. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to see Sault in full lavender bloom, but we can only imagine how spectacular it must be! Compared to Valensole, which we also visited and loved, Sault felt more peaceful and noticeably less crowded. We also couldn’t resist trying the local nougat and lavender ice cream – both were absolutely delicious!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Sault?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Sault:
